Conduit for electric wires



(No Model.)

'N. RANDALL.

OONDUIT FOR ELECTRIC WIRES. No. 291,399; Patented Jan. 1, 1884.

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UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICEQ NELSON RANDALL, OF JERSEY CITY, NEYV JERSEY.

CONDUIT FOR ELECTRIC WIRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 291,399, dated January 1, 1884. Application filed October 10, 1583. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NELsoN RANDALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Conduits for Electric Wires, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide an improved conduit for wires, and is more especially designed for the wires of electric lights stationed in buildings.

The invention consists in a conduit composed of a wooden strip or molding having longitudinal grooves and detached tongues fitted into the mouths of the grooves, and provided with a longitudinal rib or elevation on either or both sides, which embeds itself into the wood of the strip or molding and forms an air-tight joint.

The invention also consists in the combination, with a conduit composed of a wooden strip or molding having longitudinal grooves and detached tongues fitted into the mouths of the grooves, of an assemblage of wires laid in each groove and provided with a sheathing of sheetlead or other waterproof material.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a conduit in cross-section embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view thereof.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

The letter A designates the wooden strip or molding, B B its longitudinal grooves, and O O the detached tongues. Said molding A may be cut to any desired shape, and the grooves B B may be formed at any suitable point therein, they being in this example in its opposite sides, leaving a solid portion of wood between them for the reception of the screws or other fastenings used to hold the molding in position. The tongues G O are fitted snugly into the mouths of the grooves B B, and are held therein by frictional contact, they being of sufficient depth to close the grooves without, however, filling them, so that the required space is left in the bottom of the grooves to receive the wires. Each of the tongues C G is provided on both sides with a longitudinal rib or elevation, e, and when the tongues are inserted in the grooves this rib becomes embedded in the wood of the molding, as shown in Fig. 1, whereby a substantially air-tight joint is produced without binding the tongues, so that they can be readily removed when desirable. Another effect of the rib e is to increase the frictional contact of the tongues with the sides of the grooves, and thus afford a superior hold to the tongues.

In carrying out my invention, I take a series of wires and provide the same with a sheathing or casing, s, of sheet-lead or other water-proof material, when I lay the assembled wires in the grooves B B, and it will be seen that by this sheathing the wires are pro tected against moisture at a comparatively trifling expense.

It should be understood that the number of the grooves B can be varied, as circumstances may render expedient, and also that the rib 6 may be formed on only one side of the respective tongues G, leaving the other side thereof plain.

WVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A conduit for electric wires, consisting of a wooden strip or molding having longitudinal grooves, and of detached tongues fitted into the mouths of the grooves, and provided with a longitudinal rib or elevation 011 either or both sides, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination, with a conduit consisting of a wooden strip or molding having longitudinal grooves and of detached tongues fitted into the mouths of the grooves, of an assemblage of wires laid in each groove, and provided with a sheathing of sheet-lead or other water-proof material, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination, with a. strip or molding having grooves, of electric wires arranged therein, a sheathing of sheet-lead or other water-proof material around the wires, and means for confining the wires and their sheathing in the grooves of the strip or molding, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

NELSON RANDALL.

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